Improvement in revolving fire-arms



v V 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. S. W. WOOD Revolver.

No. 36,984. Patent/ed Nov. 18. 1862.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

s: W. WOOD.

Revolver.

- 4 Sheets Sheet 3. S. W. WOOD.

Revolver.

Patented Nov. 18. 1862.

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. S. W. WODD.

. Revolver;

Patented Nov. 18,1862.

1'0 all whom it may concern Unrree dramas Perenn- Denice.

S. W. \VOOD, 0F CORNWALL, NElV YORK.

lMPROVEMErlT an REVOLVENGV FlRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36.984, dated November 18, 1862.

Be it known that I, 'S. \V. WOOD, of Cornwall, county of Orange, and State of New York, have invented new and useful I mprovements in Revolving Fire-Arms, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification.

Figurel represents a view in perspective of a revolving pistol having my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pistol like Fig. 1 with the hinged gate open, showing the manner of inserting the cartridges into the chambers in the cylinders and withdrawing the emptycases, also showing the inclined plane for startin gthe empty cases from the chambers. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof Figs. 1 and 2, representing the inierior mechanism for operating the hammer to discharge the cartridges and for revolv'ng the cylinder, also showing the cartridges in position. Fig. 4 is adetachedviewot' the hammer, cylinder, trigger, and forked lever in a single piece attached to the trigger for operating the hammer and cylinder simultaneously in discharging the arm. --l ig. 5 is also .a detached view of the hammer, cylinder, trigger, and forked lever in a different position, the hammer being raised slightly to allowthe cylinder to turn freely to insert the cartridge and to withdraw the empty cases from the chem hers after the discharge, also showing a sliding bolt attachedto and operated by the hammer to boi't the cylinder in proper position while being discharged and to prevent; the throwingofl'ot' the cylinder while operatingrapidly, the recess torcceive the bolt being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the hollowed or cupped breech for receiving and inclosing the rear end of the rotating cyi' inder and incesing the heads of the cartridges to prevent accidents by premature explosion, and through which the cartridges areinserted by means of a hinged gate. Fig. 7 is a face view of the cylinder detached with the cartridge in position, showing the series otrecesses to receive the bolt corresponding in number with thechambers, also showing the,

ratchet by which the cylinder isrotated. Fig.

8 is a perspective view of a carbine having my improvements applied thereto, thechanges being only in the stock and .harrel.

, The nature of my invention consists in hollowing or cupping a stationary or fixed breech, secured to or forming part of theframe or stock of a pistol, into which the rear end of a revolvingcylinderis received, and incasing the heads,

of the cartridges, and fitted with a stationary inclined plane on its inner or front face to reheve the empty cases from the chambers,- and so constructed that when the cylinder revolves with the gate closed the cartridges will pass end taking into the notches in the face of the hammer to be forced thereform in discharging the piece; also, in the arrangement and combination' of a revolving cylinder forked springpawl in one piece and safety-bolt pivoted to and operated direct by the hammer, the whole actuated in harmony by the trigger, so that when the spring end of the pawl has revolved the cylinder and presented achamber to the barrel the opposite end of the pawl'is cast from the notch in the hannnerand the safety-bolt, being carried forward with it, enters a corresponding recess in the cylinder and secures itin position.

.Like letters indicate similar partsin all the figures.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my i-mproved revolving tire-arm, I will proceed to describe the same in detail.

A in the annexed drawings represents the stock or frame of the pistol, upon which are mounted and arranged the various operating parts, andzro the front end of which is secured the barrel B. Elle-the front face of this stock is fitted a breech-piece, D, the face of which isv hollowed or cupped out, so as toreceive and incase the rear end of the revolving cylinder E and to inease the heads. of the cartridges o. Around the center and upon its face is formed a rim, e, which receives the ratchet w of the cylinderE within it and prevents longitudinal or sliding motion of the cylinder and permits i the cartridges to move freely in the face a; of

the breech. To the side of this breech is fitted a hinged gate, D, which is closed by a spring, 0, through which the cartridges are inserted into the chambers and-the empty cases withdrawn. (See Fig. 2.) This breech-piece may form part of the stock A, if preferred, or .be fitted thereto, as represented. The barrel B has a shank,R, projecting from its lower rear end, through which a screw, ,8, passes to secure it to the front end of thestock A, and through the center of this shank R a pin, F, passes, which serves as a journal for the cylinder E to turn upon, and which extends through the breech-piece D and into the stock A, securing the barrel and cylinder firmly in position with m, formed in the face of the hammer G and the other end of the fork operating in the ratchet u, formed upon the end of the cylinder;-E.

The lower end ofthe forked spring-pawl h is pivoted to a vibratihg trigger, J, hinged at i, so that when pulled by the finger the forked spring-pawl h rises perpendicularly, turns the cylinder E to the required position, presenting a chamber and cartridge. in direct line with the bore of thebarrel B, and at the same instant the lower end, n, of the hammer bears against the rear prong ot the forked springpawl h, forcing it from the notches m and allowing the hammer G to descend upon and explode the cartridge by means of a spring, H,

the oppositeend oiiwhich bears upon'thetrigger and acts as a sear-spri n g to return the-trigger into position after the discharge and when released by the finger, v

To stop the cylinder at-the required instant, and to lock it in positionso that the chamber shall be directly in line with the bore f the B, abolt, a, is attached to the-face of the hammer G, and when thrown forward by the descent of the hammer upon the cartridge enters corresponding openings or recesses, b, formed in the rear end of the cylinder E. The recesses b correspond in number with the chambers I, andare arranged in the'proper relative position to lock each-chamber directly inline with the bore of the barrel B.

To release the discharged cases from the chambers of the revolving cylinder a stationary or fixed inclineplane, f, is secured to or forms a part of the hollowed breech D, so that when the gate D is opened and the muzzle of.

will again be forced into their proper position.

in the chambers.

Having thus fully described my improved revolving fire-arm, what I'claiin therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Hollowing or cupping the stationary or fixed breech secured to or forming part of the frame or stock of a revolving pistol and receivingand incasing the end of the cylinder and heads of the cartridges having a fixed or stationary inclined plane, the whole arranged and constructed as herein described.

2. In a self-cocking and discharging pistol, revolving the cylinderand operating the hammer by means of a forked spring-pawl in one piece, arranged as set forth. v

' S. W. WOOD.

Witnesses: i v

, J. B. WooDRUFF, W. G. ORANen. 

